Know the stroke symptoms and think FAST

F: Face numbness or tingling

A: Arm weakness or paralysis

S: Speech abnormality

T: Time is critical. Call 9-1-1

May is National Stroke Awareness Month.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 800,000 people experience a new or recurrent stroke every year in the United States. Safa Zaraga, a well-known 53-year old restaurateur from Oxford, is a local stroke survivor.

On the morning of Aug. 22, days before he was to be married, Zaraga decided to go for a walk on a trail near his home.

While walking, Zaraga described a strange physical sensation. “It was like I was walking on air. I couldn’t feel my feet on the ground,” he said.

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Growing concerned, he turned back for home when his right leg collapsed beneath him and he fell to one knee. “I knew something was wrong but I couldn’t stand back up and walk,” said Zaraga. “I tried moving my right hand but it wouldn’t move. With my left hand I grabbed my cell phone and called my fiancé Jennifer but I couldn’t speak and she couldn’t understand me.”

His fiancé, sensing something was wrong, immediately called 9-1-1. Her quick action likely saved his life. A passerby, who witnessed Zaraga collapse, also came to his aid. The man was able to talk on the phone for the struggling Zaraga and help his fiancé and the Oxford Fire Department locate where they were on the trail.

“Our stroke response is integrated with EMS so that once they call it in, we were able to free up the CT machine, surgical room and other medical equipment we needed,” said Andrew Xavier, MD, chief of interventional neurology at St. Joseph Mercy Oakland.

“The personnel, space and resources were ready for Mr. Zaraga when he arrived to the hospital.”

Pratik Bhattacharya, MD and Ramesh Madhavan, MD, two neurologists that have helped lead the development of St. Joe’s Stroke Center, say that the public needs to be aware of the acronym “FAST.” The acronym stands for Facial droop, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty and Time. It helps patients identify stroke symptoms and call 9-1-1 immediately if they suspect a stroke has occurred.

St. Joe’s Stroke Center treats more than 500 stroke patients of this type each year and has made significant improvements in its collaboration with Oakland County EMS agencies, including the Oxford Fire Department, to streamline communication and reduce treatment time.

Xavier emphasizes the need to act quickly. “Time is brain. For the treatment of stroke, every minute counts. The faster the patient gets to the hospital and treatment is given, the greater the likelihood that they will have a positive outcome.”

St. Joe’s recently received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s two highest stroke award recognitions for adherence to stroke quality performance measures and for treating strokes that are caused by blood clots (ischemic stroke) within 45 minutes or less from arrival to the hospital.

In Zaraga’s case, Xavier credits immediate administration of Tissue Plasminogen Activator (tPA), a medication that dissolves a blood clot and improves blood flow to the part of the brain deprived of blood and oxygen. He also credits a new innovative surgery, which he performed on Zaraga. The surgery allowed Xavier to very effectively locate, retrieve and remove the blood clot.

Xavier said that Oakland County residents are fortunate because very few hospitals in Michigan have streamlined stroke processes like St. Joe’s or use such advanced clot busting techniques. “There is a technology revolution occurring in the treatment of stroke and our ability to remove clots within the brain,” he said. “Because St. Joe’s is at the forefront of this technology and because we have established strong processes and procedures, our stroke patients are going home with better outcomes than ever before.”

Zaraga was one of these fortunate patients. He is fully functioning and back at work greeting customers of his restaurant, all with the support of his now wife Jennifer.

As Zaraga reflected on his stroke and how he survived that August morning on the trail, he said, “Every minute counts and they got me to the hospital quickly. It was an amazing experience at St. Joe’s. I couldn’t be more grateful.”

Xavier is happy with Zaraga’s outcome as well. He said, “Our stroke team is glad he is doing so well and is back to living his life.”